Voters' Guide: York Sheriff

Relevant experience: 2.5 years of community college courses, 2677 hours of classroom training through the Newport News Police Department and Hampton Roads Regional Academy of Criminal Justice and 27 years of progressive law enforcement assignments; past president, York High School Booster Club, 1990; Past Board of Directors, Peninsula Sports Club, 1990-1994.

ISSUES:

1. National Accreditation for Sheriff's Department. To achieve this accreditation, the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Department would be required to meet high standards in all aspects of its operations, training and career developement. The complete process takes two to three years to complete. In order for York County-Poquoson to succeed in its regionalization efforts and economic development, its local Sheriff's Department must be recognized as modern, up-to-date and constantly improving law enforcement practices. It must be widely recognized as a professional law enforcement department.

2. Training and Career Development. Immediate emphasis must be placed on assessment of the training needs of each deputy and officer. Each deputy and officer must be constantly learning to be the best law enforcement person that he/she is capable of becoming.

3. Public Safety. To assure the citizens of their public safety, the following programs need to implemented immediately:

a. Substations in the Bruton and Tabb areas

b. Citizen Complaints and Review Board

c. Active participant with other jurisdictions in joint drug-fighting programs

d. Year-round, non-violent inmate work detail programs

J.D. "DANNY" DIGGS (R)

Age: 38

Occupation: Captain, Gloucester County, Sheriff's Office

Relevant Experience: 19 years in law enforcement, experienced in administration and budget, management of uniform patrol, corrections, and communications. Also served as major crimes investigator. Graduate of FBI National Academy, as well as over 20 federal, state, and local specialized training schools. College Degree in Police Science. Polygraph examiner and fingerprint expert.

ISSUES:

1. York County had more than a 50 percent increase in reported crimes from 1987 to 1992. In 1989 the percentage of crimes solved in York County was almost 40 percent. In 1993 and 1994, the percentage of crimes solved had fallen to only 23 percent and 26 percent, respectively. The trend of increases in crime and decrease in solving crime must be changed. An effective, structured Crime Prevention Program must be started. It should serve both the homeowner and businessman. An innovative reallocation of personnel must be developed to make better use of existing manpower. A new leader who can revitalize the deputies, improve morale, and increase productivity is needed.

2. The Sheriff has failed to anticipate change and plan for the future. This includes law enforcement and corrections. An excellent example is the jail overcrowding crisis costing the taxpayers $375,000 in renovations and $1,000 a day for boarding prisoners. The jail was at twice its capacity as early as 1990 and nothing was done. Our community and its problems are changing everyday. Leadership in local government must be ready, willing, and able to change with it. It is imperative that we have leaders capable of dealing with change in a proactive manner, anticipating and planning for change before and as it occurs.

3. Leadership. Professionalism, respect, integrity, and fairness are principles I have heard throughout the campaign. While many of the deputies have these traits, leadership is lacking. Professionalism is defined as extensive education, training, and high standards for an occupation. Current hiring and promotional practices are a subject of criticism from both inside and outside of the department. This and other questionable behavior have eroded the peoples' respect, and have led to a questioning of integrity and fairness. Citizens are crying out for a change. The sheriff and the "good old boy" system should be replaced with a new, dynamic, energetic leader with a vision for the future.